Introducing the LEAP study – LGBTQ+ Inclusive Home Provision for older people.
Introduction:
Commencing June 2025, this 27-month project aims to better understand how prepared people working in home care are to support older (aged 60+) LGBTQ+ people. This study is a new collaboration between the University of Kent (host organisation) and CARE and will involve home care workers and older people from both Wales and England. Other participating universities include the University of Birmingham and London South Bank University. The project will be delivered in collaboration with Social Care Wales, Skills for Care and the UK Home Care Association along with home care providers in Wales and England.
By prepared we mean if home care workers have the right skills, knowledge, and confidence tosupport the LGBTQ+ population. There are at least 1 million older LGBTQ+ people in England and Wales, sothis issue affects many people. Earlier studies show that care workers lack skills, knowledge and confidence to supportolder LGBTQ+ people. These studies have focussed on care homes and extra care housing, but no studies havelooked at home care specifically.
Background:
We know from recent studies that many LGBTQ+ adults hold a lot of worries about having to receive social care support in later life – worries about receiving hostile discriminatory treatment from care workers, having their care needs and their identities and relationships disregarded or not receiving good quality care that is fully inclusive. In relation to home care provision some LGBTQ+ people report fears about having to ‘de-gay’ their own home and protect themselves from anticipated homophobic or transphobic treatment. However, we do not know much about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people directly receiving home care support in their own homes. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and othersexuality and gender minority groups.
Current policy is to support older people to continue living in their homes near the communities that matter to them for as long as possible. It is important to understand how prepared home care workers are to support this population, so that we can provide recommendations for improvements. This will help home care workers to provide inclusive and personalised care and for employers in the sector to make sure workers receive good training and support on inclusive care.
Study methods and activities:
Our research design will include a rapid review of existing literature for any information about the preparedness of people working in home care, an online questionnaire to home care workers and providers about their LGBTQ+ knowledge and current skills, and interviews with home care workers and older LGBTQ+ people currently receiving home care support. We will also be offering the option for older people to send us letters about their experiences of home care.
Public Involvement activities:
The bid was informed by perspectives from people working in home care and managing home care services and by older LGBTQ+ people. We will set up a group of older LGBTQ+ people who will advise us throughout the study on all aspects. They will also help us with the interviews with LGBTQ+ people and act as co-researchers.
Research Leads:
Dr Jolie Keemink, Centre for Health Service Studies, University of Kent (lead)
Professor Paul Willis, CARE (co-lead)
CARE affiliation:
This project is a new collaboration between the Centre for Health Service Studies, University of Kent and CARE. The bid was co-led by CARE Director Paul Willis.
Research Members and collaborations:
Collaborating organisations include Social Care Wales, Skills for Care and the UK Homecare Association along with co-investigators from the University of Birmingham and London South Bank University.
Funder(s):
NIHR Research for Social Care Programme
Funding amount:
£507,169
Project start date:
1st June 2025
Project end date:
31st August 2027
Findings:
Ongoing